People had had enough
When foreign powers took control, they often treated local people unfairly. Brave local heroes (pahlawan tempatan) stood up to fight them. They had good reasons to resist.
Main reasons for resistance
- Interfering in customs and religion — the colonisers ignored Malay customs (adat) and Islam.
- Unfair taxes — new taxes were forced on farmers and traders, even on collecting jungle produce.
- Losing power — Malay chiefs and Sultans lost their authority to the British Resident.
- Taking control of the economy — the British controlled tin, land and trade.
Key idea
Local heroes resisted because the colonisers interfered in their customs, taxed them unfairly and took away their power and land.
One famous example was in Perak, where Resident J.W.W. Birch collected taxes and interfered so harshly that the people rose against him.
Remember
- Resistance = fighting against unfair colonial rule.
- Main causes: customs, taxes, lost power, controlled economy.